The Cream of Clapton

Clapton is rightly revered as one of rock’s greatest guitarists. Yet this carefully programmed compilation proves his total musicianship, showcasing his talents as singer, composer, arranger, and bandleader. While his scorching licks on Cream’s psych-boogie jam “Crossroads” set the bar for multiple generations of six-stringers, his R&B-infused vocals on Derek & The Dominos’ “Bell Bottom Blues” are some of pop’s most sublime in terms of sheer vulnerability. Then there’s his funky reworking of “I Shot the Sheriff,” which played a pivotal role in cross-pollinating rock and reggae in the ’70s.